www.washingtontimes.com Topics: Florida Supreme Courthttp://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/florida-supreme-court/?utm_medium=RSSwww.washingtontimes.com Topics: Florida Supreme Courten-usThu, 24 Aug 2017 05:07:51 -0400Florida executes convicted double-murderer using new drughttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/24/florida-to-execute-man-convicted-in-race-motivated/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>STARKE, Fla. (AP) - Florida on Thursday put a man to death with an anesthetic never used before in a U.S. lethal injection, carrying out its first execution in more than 18 months on an inmate convicted of two racially motivated murders.</p> <p>Authorities said 53-year-old Mark Asay, the first white ...JASON DEARENThu, 24 Aug 2017 05:07:51 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/24/florida-to-execute-man-convicted-in-race-motivated/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida Supreme Court rejects appeal of Thursday's executionhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/21/florida-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-of-thursdays-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is refusing, again, to halt the state's first execution after a hiatus of more than 18 months.</p> <p>Justices rejected an appeal Monday on behalf of Mark Asay, who is set to die on Thursday for killing two men in Jacksonville in 1987.</p> ...Mon, 21 Aug 2017 16:53:41 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/21/florida-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-of-thursdays-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida high court tosses convicted killer's death sentencehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/19/florida-high-court-tosses-convicted-killers-death-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of a man convicted of a double slaying due to inadequate representation.</p> <p>The Florida Times-Union reports (http://bit.ly/2rza9Kx ) that the court overturned Thomas Bevel's sentence on Thursday.</p> <p>Bevel was convicted in the 2004 killings of a Garrick ...Mon, 19 Jun 2017 03:01:16 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/19/florida-high-court-tosses-convicted-killers-death-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSRick Scott, Florida governor, removes prosecutor from death-row casehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/8/florida-lawmaker-remove-prosecutor-from-death-row-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) &mdash; The Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing hearing for a death row inmate on Thursday and Gov. Rick Scott immediately took the case away from an Orlando prosecutor who is opposed to the death penalty.</p> <p>The Florida Supreme Court ordered the new hearing for Bessman ...Brendan FarringtonThu, 08 Jun 2017 16:25:31 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/8/florida-lawmaker-remove-prosecutor-from-death-row-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSCourt orders death-row inmate's release; calls evidence weakhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/11/florida-supreme-court-orders-release-of-death-row-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A former Air Force sergeant on death row for the murders of an ex-girlfriend and their son will be set free after the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that there was no physical evidence to convict him and that prosecutors failed to look at others who ...BRENDAN FARRINGTONThu, 11 May 2017 16:34:34 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/11/florida-supreme-court-orders-release-of-death-row-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSCourt says immigration status irrelevant in dependency caseshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/20/court-says-immigration-status-irrelevant-in-depend/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court says judges can't dismiss immigrant children's petitions for dependency simply because they think they're seeking the status to secure permanent residency.</p> <p>Thursday's ruling involves a Guatemalan boy who immigrated to Florida when he was 13 after his parents abandoned him and his ...Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:19:09 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/20/court-says-immigration-status-irrelevant-in-depend/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida voters may get a say over casino gamblinghttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/20/florida-voters-may-get-a-say-over-casino-gambling/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is signing off on a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for new casinos.</p> <p>A divided court ruled 4-2 on Thursday that the amendment was not misleading and sticks to one subject. Backers of the amendment will still need to ...Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:32:27 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/20/florida-voters-may-get-a-say-over-casino-gambling/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida Supreme Court OK with higher satellite TV tax ratehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/13/florida-supreme-court-ok-with-higher-satellite-tv-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court says the state can tax cable TV and satellite TV at different rates.</p> <p>Its decision Thursday overturned an appeals court ruling that said the state is unfairly taxing satellite TV at higher rate than cable providers.</p> <p>DirecTV and the company that operates ...Thu, 13 Apr 2017 12:37:55 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/13/florida-supreme-court-ok-with-higher-satellite-tv-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSAfter 2 years, Florida court defines sexual intercoursehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/16/after-2-year-wait-florida-court-defines-sexual-int/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - It took two years and three dictionaries, but the Florida Supreme Court finally determined Thursday that "sexual intercourse" isn't just between a man and a woman.</p> <p>The question arose during a case in which a man was charged with a third-degree felony for failing to reveal ...BRENDAN FARRINGTONThu, 16 Mar 2017 12:34:52 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/16/after-2-year-wait-florida-court-defines-sexual-int/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSAfter 2 years, Florida court defines sexual intercoursehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/16/after-2-years-florida-court-defines-sexual-interco/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court has determined that "sexual intercourse" isn't just between a man and a woman.</p> <p>The question arose during a case in which a man was charged with a third-degree felony for failing to reveal to his male partner that he was HIV-positive. His ...BRENDAN FARRINGTONThu, 16 Mar 2017 12:51:13 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/16/after-2-years-florida-court-defines-sexual-interco/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSTell us why you haven't ruled Florida House tells courthttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/10/tell-us-why-you-havent-ruled-florida-house-tells-c/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court would be forced to explain to the governor, attorney general and legislative leaders why it's taking so long to rule on certain cases under a bill approved by the Florida House.</p> <p>The House voted 78-37 on Friday for a bill (HB 301) ...Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:42:04 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/10/tell-us-why-you-havent-ruled-florida-house-tells-c/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSSupreme Court suspends north Florida judge for 6 monthshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/2/supreme-court-suspends-north-florida-judge-for-6-m/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is suspending a judge for misconduct before he was elected and during his campaign for his current seat.</p> <p>The court said Thursday that Third Judicial Circuit Judge Andrew Decker will be suspended without pay for six months and undergo a public reprimand.</p> ...Thu, 02 Mar 2017 14:29:29 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/2/supreme-court-suspends-north-florida-judge-for-6-m/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida Supreme Court overturns abortion ban at clinichttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/24/fla-supreme-court-overturns-abortion-limit-at-clin/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A Planned Parenthood affiliate has won a battle over whether doctors can perform abortions and sonograms at a Florida health center.</p> <p>The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday overturned two lower-court decisions that for the time being would have stopped abortions and sonograms from being performed at ...MIKE SCHNEIDERFri, 24 Feb 2017 11:49:52 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/24/fla-supreme-court-overturns-abortion-limit-at-clin/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida editorial rounduphttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/8/florida-editorial-roundup/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>Recent editorials from Florida newspapers:</p> <p>___</p> <p>Feb. 7</p> <p>SunSentinel on funding for legal aid for Florida residents:</p> <p>This past week, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget proposal for the year that begins July 1. We recounted some, but not all, of the highlights and lowlights in this space on Saturday.</p> ...The Associated PressWed, 08 Feb 2017 17:19:17 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/8/florida-editorial-roundup/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida high court: Limits on lawyers' fees unconstitutionalhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/31/florida-high-court-limits-on-lawyers-fees-unconsti/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is declaring limits on lawyers' fees paid in so-called claims bills are unconstitutional.</p> <p>The ruling issued Tuesday involves the case of a boy who was injured at birth due to negligence at Lee County's public hospital more than 19 years ago.</p> <p>In ...Tue, 31 Jan 2017 18:10:07 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/31/florida-high-court-limits-on-lawyers-fees-unconsti/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida may let some death row inmates avoid executionshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/22/florida-may-let-some-death-row-inmates-avoid-execu/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The fate of more than half of Florida's 386 death row inmates has been thrown into limbo amid far-reaching rulings handed down Thursday by the state's Supreme Court.</p> <p>The rulings are the latest twist in an ongoing legal battle over Florida's reliance on a sentencing law ...GARY FINEOUTThu, 22 Dec 2016 13:03:05 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/22/florida-may-let-some-death-row-inmates-avoid-execu/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida death row inmate to be resentenced for killing babyhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/22/florida-death-row-inmate-to-be-resentenced-for-kil/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A man who wrapped his crying 10-month-old son in a garbage bag and placed him next to the baby's dead mother to suffocate will have a chance to get off death row after the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a new sentencing hearing.</p> <p>The reason: ...BRENDAN FARRINGTONThu, 22 Dec 2016 12:15:42 -0500http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/22/florida-death-row-inmate-to-be-resentenced-for-kil/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSFlorida AG Bondi wants court to clarify death penalty rulinghttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/21/florida-ag-bondi-wants-supreme-court-to-clarify-de/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Attorney General Pam Bondi, warning that murder trials across the state could be placed in limbo, has asked the Florida Supreme Court to clarify a sweeping death penalty ruling it handed down last week.</p> <p>In two linked cases, the court first concluded that death sentences must ...GARY FINEOUTFri, 21 Oct 2016 16:44:08 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/21/florida-ag-bondi-wants-supreme-court-to-clarify-de/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSNew trial ordered for man in decades-old murder casehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/20/new-trial-ordered-for-man-in-decades-old-murder-ca/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man is getting a new trial more than four decades after being convicted of murder.</p> <p>The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a lower court's order of a new trial for Jacob Dougan, who was convicted in 1975 of a Jacksonville murder. Police believe ...Thu, 20 Oct 2016 15:37:05 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/20/new-trial-ordered-for-man-in-decades-old-murder-ca/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSCelebrate Liberty Month: Speech restrictions in judicial elections: Good idea or incumbent protectiohttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/22/celebrate-liberty-month-speech-restrictions-in-jud/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>The Constitution guarantees us the right to choose our own rulers.</p> <p>For our choice to be meaningful, we need free access to all types of speech: information, debate, and argument.</p> <p>This is why political speech is at the core of the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the Supreme ...Jonathan KeimWed, 22 Jul 2015 19:53:08 -0400http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/22/celebrate-liberty-month-speech-restrictions-in-jud/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS